Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/141

112 I will agree to what you wish.' Then the male bird asked her, What is your demand?' She replied, 'That out of the ruins belonging to this large town, you will bestow upon me twenty of those villages which have fallen into decay during the reign of the present fortunate prince.'"

Then the King asked the Maubadz, "And what did the male owl say to her?"

"His reply to her," answered the Maubadz, "was, 'If the days of this fortunate prince endure, I will bestow upon you a thousand of these villages. But what will you do with them?' And she made answer, 'Through our union our race will become famous, and our memory great; and we will give one village from amid these ruins to every son amongst our children.' And he said to her, 'This is a light task that you have demanded of me, and I will fulfil it if this King lives.'"

Then when Bahrâm heard the words of the Maubadz, his soul was moved within him, and he awoke from his sleep, and pondered over what had been told him. And he alighted at once, and his attendants followed his example. Then he and the Maubadz went aside, and the King cried, "O thou supporter